Suriname 2018 Crime & Safety Report
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Suriname 2018 Crime & Safety Report According to the current U.S. Department of State Travel Advisory at the date of this report’s publication, Suriname has been assessed as Level 1: exercise normal precautions. Overall Crime and Safety Situation U.S. Embassy Paramaribo does not assume responsibility for the professional ability or integrity of the persons or firms appearing in this report. The American Citizens’ Services unit (ACS) cannot recommend a particular individual or location, and assumes no responsibility for the quality of service provided. The U.S. Department of State has assessed Paramaribo as being a HIGH-threat location for crime directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests. Please review OSAC’s Suriname-specific page for original OSAC reporting, consular messages, and contact information, some of which may be available only to private-sector representatives with an OSAC password. Inadequate resources, limited law enforcement training, the absence of a law enforcement presence in the country’s interior, and a lack of government aircraft or sufficient numbers of patrol boats limit the capacity of the government to control its territory or borders. Crime Threats Crime is a major concern. The police and press report that overall crime levels are increasing, with violent crimes increasing at a far greater level. Murders, residential/business robberies, carjackings, burglaries, and muggings occurred regularly in 2017. Street crime, including thefts of backpacks, purses, jewelry (particularly necklaces), and cell phones, are regular occurrences. Tourist areas are common targets for thieves and muggers, who frequently strike at night. A steep increase in these types of crimes tends to occur around the December/January holidays. There are no areas of Paramaribo that can be considered completely safe. Criminals move without restriction into and out of neighborhoods where expatriates live, often utilizing scooters or motorcycles to evade police. Armed robberies and armed home invasions occurred within one block of Embassy residences. There were also reports of guard dogs being poisoned in order to facilitate burglaries. There have not been any confirmed reports of burglaries at homes where official Americans reside or at homes that employ 24-hour residential security guards. Criminals often carry firearms or other weapons and will use them, especially if victims resist. In 2017, a visiting French diplomat was seriously injured after resisting a robbery attempt. Handgun permits are very difficult to obtain, but many criminals have handguns. Shotguns, the only firearms normally owned by civilians, are also frequently used in the commission of crimes. Although illegal, gun traps are used for hunting purposes in the interior. There have been reports of criminal incidents in the vicinities of the major hotels. Guests at major hotels have reported thefts of personal items from their rooms and from common areas (restaurants, bars, gyms, pools). Several expatriates were robbed at gun point while walking in close proximity to popular hotels. 1 Organized crime does exist in Paramaribo but is on a smaller scale than other cities in the region. Areas of Concern It is advised that visitors avoid walking in the Paramaribo downtown area and the Palmentuin (Palm Garden) after dark, as these areas are often used by criminals targeting foreigners. Travel to the interior of the country requires caution. Anyone venturing into the interior is advised to have a seasoned guide and some form of communication. Services offered through major hotels and tourist agencies are usually safer and more reliable. There have been reports of tourists and foreigners being robbed while traveling in the countryside and occasional reports of bandits on rural roads. Transportation Safety Situation For more information, please review OSAC’s Report, “Security in Transit: Airplanes, Public Transport, and Overnights.” Road Safety and Road Conditions Vehicle accidents are a very real safety threat. In general, roads and driving conditions, particularly outside Paramaribo, are well below U.S. standards. Drivers should be very cognizant of mopeds, scooters, and motorcycles, especially when making turns. They are common and always have the right-of-way, as they are considered pedestrians according to local law. Police sporadically enforce local traffic laws, so locals drive recklessly. Traffic cameras are in place but are often broken or unutilized. Driving while talking on a cell phone is illegal and is one of the few traffic offenses that is occasionally enforced. If involved in an accident, drivers are expected to leave the vehicle exactly where the accident occurred and stay at the scene until the police arrive to take a report, even though the wait may be hours. If the driver leaves before the police arrive, s/he will be found at fault and could be charged with leaving the scene of an accident. It is not uncommon for roads to be blocked by a minor accident as the involved drivers wait for the police to arrive. Most international companies located outside of Paramaribo provide medical support, including medevac services, to employees in case of accidents. Public Transportation Conditions The use of public transportation (mini-buses) by visitors unfamiliar with the country is highly discouraged. Traveling by public transportation, especially outside of Paramaribo, can be very dangerous. The three highways leading out of Paramaribo are often the sites of horrendous accidents, usually due to speeding, and often involve buses or vans transporting passengers. The use of reputable taxis, however, is generally acceptable. Terrorism Threat 2 The U.S. Department of State has assessed Paramaribo as being a LOW-threat location for terrorist activity directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests. Local, Regional, and International Terrorism Threats/Concerns In July 2017, the media reported that two individuals had been arrested by Surinamese police due to ties with ISIS. These individuals are awaiting trial and have not been convicted. There are no known indigenous terrorist groups in Suriname. Suriname is a non-aligned country with no significant enemies and is not targeted by any known radical groups. There is no specific threat information concerning U.S. private sector organizations in Suriname. Political, Economic, Religious, and Ethnic Violence The U.S. Department of State has assessed Paramaribo as being a LOW-threat location for political violence directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests. Civil Unrest Protests organized by anti-government groups and labor unions are very common but are generally not well-attended or disruptive. Post-specific Concerns Environmental Hazards Flooding regularly occurs in Paramaribo during the “big” rainy seasons (May-August, November-February). Many roads flood, and driving can be extremely difficult and dangerous. Paramaribo has many canals, and during the worst of the flooding, drivers are unable to determine where roads end and canals begin. Due to poor drainage, flooding can last for several days. Should a major emergency take place again, the government would likely approach the UNDP and the U.S., French, and Dutch embassies for guidance and assistance. Over 80% of the country is largely uninhabited rainforest, which yields related dangers such as hazardous flora and fauna, vector-borne diseases, gun traps, insufficient medical infrastructure, difficulty of extraction/rescue, and drug-trafficking and other criminal enterprises, often associated with the illegal gold mining occurring in the interior. For more information, please review OSAC’s Report “When Wildlife Attacks.” Privacy Concerns There is concern among some media professionals and others that their communications and movement may be being monitored. Drug-related Crimes Suriname is a transit zone for cocaine, primarily en route to Europe and Africa. In 2016, there was also a significant increase in narcotics trafficking to the U.S. 3 There have been sporadic instances of narcotics-related violence between individuals associated with competing drug trafficking organizations. These have included assassinations and drive-by shootings. Kidnapping Threat Kidnapping is a relatively rare occurrence. Of the kidnappings that have occurred, many are related to personal or business conflicts. There have been no kidnappings involving foreign victims reported to the U.S. Embassy. For more information, please review OSAC’s Report, “Kidnapping: The Basics.” Police Response Police officials frequently cite lack of resources, staff, and basic equipment, as well as low morale, as reasons for law enforcement’s unsolved crimes and widely varying response times. Police response, especially at night, is a rarity for all but the most serious crimes. How to Handle Incidents of Police Detention or Harassment Visitors should report incidents to the U.S. Embassy Duty Officer as soon as possible. If arrested/detained, ensure that the police understand that you are a U.S. citizen and ask the police to contact the U.S. Embassy (556-700) during working hours or the U.S. Embassy Duty Officer (710-1112) after hours. If calling from the U.S., dial 011-597-710-1112. Victim Assistance 115 is a general emergency number for police and medical emergencies. Operators may not speak English. Crimes can be reported in person or over the phone during business hours to any of the below police stations: Inside Paramaribo Keizerstraat Station (Central Paramaribo) Keizerstraat